Prius Hybrid Component Failure Data Project

Nice work! Here's another HV battery entry:

-Approximate date of failure: 11/21/2006
-PC user name: Patrick Wong
-Vehicle Year: 2001
-Vehicle Miles: 61,365
-Anything interesting noted by the user: DTC P3006

 

This really deserves to be a sticky. How about hosting the SS on google, so that people can update it themselves ?

 

On Sept. 16, 2007 I compiled a list of 16 transaxle failures reported on Yahoo toyota-prius group (per my Yahoo PTS msg. 24489):

5/21/2003: msg 56989, johnamerc48, 2001, 73K miles, high pitched noise
from left front, diagnosed as transaxle failure by dealer. msg 73544,
OP mentions that an accident happened a few days prior.

10/24/2003: msg 65335, jonstiel, 2001, 115K miles, READY on but car
refuses to move

6/11/2004: msg 73981, kendallsims, 2002, (odometer not stated), hybrid
system warning light, car refused to restart.

8/2004: msg 94108, Reynolds Cushman, 2001, 102K miles, symptoms not
reported.

1/26/2005: msg 80619, bretsuaz, 2003, 74K miles, symptoms not
reported. Also see msgs 80351 and 80666.

4/23/2005: msg 83701, milliqat, 2001, 80K miles, howling noise. Also
see msgs 83549 and 83929.

8/12/2005: msg 86859, wbone14, 2002, (odometer not stated), symptoms
not reported.

4/6/2006: msg 93057, Philip Barr, 2001, 67K miles, symptoms not
reported; traction battery also failed. Also see msg 93205.

4/28/2006: msg 93550, jrshine85213, 2001, 93K miles, bad MG2 diagnosed.

9/5/2006: msg 96521, Russ Rodriguez, 2001, 115K miles, howling sound.

9/10/2006: msg 96641, Florian Steiper, 2001, 55K miles, P3120 etc.

9/15/2006: msg 96750, dentonaikido, 2001, 118K miles, P3009 and
whining sound.

3/26/3007: msg 101134, Chuck Phillips, 2002, 120K miles, P3000, P3125,
P3009, howling sound. Also see msg 101554.

3/27/2007: msg 101179, duncanpc, 2001, 85K miles, P3000, P3125, C1259;
car will not move forward. Also see msg 101836 where the transaxle had
been replaced and this was confirmed as the problem.

6/1/2007: msg 102946, heyvernisitjustme, 2001, 72K miles, car coasted
to stop with warning lights.

9/20/2007: msg 105628, Sandy Draper, 2002, 108K miles, CEL and
shuddering sound under hood.

 

I see the value in data-mining but how would you use this data without knowing the non-failures?

 

Yes, there's no way to know the failure rate. However you at least can see the relative likelihood of one problem happening vs. another.

 

Presumably this is related to the recommendation to change the transaxle oil earlier?

 

Any preventive maintenance one can do to help the water pump and the inverter?

 

Yes. The string of Classic transaxle failures prompted used fluid testing which revealed high Si and Fe content (i.e., dirt and ferrous metal particles) as well as reduced oil viscosity after 30K miles (or less.)

Replace the coolant with the correct Toyota SLLC no later than prescribed by the maintenance schedule. Consider replacing the inverter water pump at 100K miles (if not sooner) as a preventive move to help inverter longevity.

 

Considering that sites like this are a natural place to turn for independent information when major failures occur and considering the number of accounts, the overall incidence rate appears low.

 

I'm not sure if Patrick also mined the "Prius Technical Stuff" messages ... another good source. I've got a couple of NHW11 accelerator rebuilds but I'll have to check my records later tonight. Doug may have a longer list.

Also look for steering "jitter," a problem that the Dept. of Energy found in their maintenance records in the fleet studies. I know there was one steering assembly replacement.

The only tricky part is to cull out any duplicate records ... always a joy.

Over at GreenHybrid, I sent all failures over to "Prius Technical Stuff" since that was one of the better sites for technical support.

Hobbit may have more details on MFD failures, the poor solder joint problem.

I think there have been at least 2-3 HC linkage problems. There have been a couple of catalytic converter repairs (see Art's Automotive.) ... Art's also did a transaxle rebuild and probably a couple of traction battery replacements. Perhaps a quick not or call to Art's and Luscious Garage? You might even share the data and ask AutoBeYours if they have anything.

There are some problems I'm not sure rate an entry:

• rodent chewed parts
• blocked water drain over firewall
• car didn't (excuse d'jour) on a snow covered roadway
• car dash lit up and stopped moving and no one could figure it out and it didn't go until gas ...
• run-away accelerator incidents (still a big HUH?)
• unhappy Prius owners who want to sue someone
• 'there I was safely driving down the interstate in the winter at 2:30 AM in the morning after working 14 hours and a nice dinner at a beer and pizza place and suddenly the car flipped over the guard rail and left me hanging in the seat belt with the air bags deployed ... obviously the car is too dangerous ...'
• suddenly the lights went out and I had it towed to Toyota and they said something about a fuse but charged me $500 anyway
• the car wouldn't and the lights were dim so the car was towed to Toyota and they replaced a $200 battery after four years ...
• somehow diesel got put in my tank and the car no longer works ...

You might also check out the NHTSA reports of vehicle problems. Sad to say, this list starts to come close to the ones by those jerks at "Consumer Affairs." (GROAN mining them is like looking for gold at the water treatment plant ... you'll find it but who would want it!)

Bob Wilson

 

I noticed the last entry is about a year old -- is this project being carried on elsewhere or has interest died down?